After Verizon, Germany Mulls Axing Foreign Tech

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Berlin (AP) — First Verizon got the boot, now the German government is considering pulling the plug on foreign companies that provide hardware for official communication networks.

An Interior Ministry spokesman says Germany is examining which devices can be used if it wants to keep critical IT infrastructure safe from cyberthreats.

Tobias Plate told reporters in Berlin on Friday the move is part of a broad strategy recently described by his boss, Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere, as a new form of patriotism.

On Thursday de Maiziere's office announced it is ending an Internet services contract with Verizon, in part over fears the company could be giving the U.S. National Security Agency access to sensitive communications.

Germany's government has expressed anger at reports that it was targeted by the NSA in the past.